Whom Do We Owe?

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors – not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  

Romans 8:12-14 

To whom are we indebted? Paul is writing to the Romans. He began with two and a half chapters on the woeful depravity of humanity. He declared the facts of our condemnation. In the next chapters he explained justification, the gospel of free grace. Beginning in chapter 6, he began to discuss the progressive transformation of the life of the believer. Chapter 8 is a clear discussion of the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the justified person. In this discussion, Paul distinguishes walking according to the flesh and walking according to the Spirit. Because God has changed us from being dead in trespasses and sins to being alive in Christ, we are no longer the people we were. As long as we were out of Christ we were captivated by what feeds our natural appetites. Christ has brought salvation to us and us to salvation. This means we owe nothing to the old ways. Those were the ways that brought us down towards death. The Spirit of God moves within us to bring us farther away from the old ways and closer to the ways of Christ to Whom we owe everything.  

Our Gracious Master and our God, 
we rejoice that Your ways are right. 
We praise You that by Your Spirit, 
You bring us to walk in them. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning